Operating mechanism for automatic car-couplings.



No. 812,385. PATENTED FEB. 13, 1906.

E.E.TURNBY. I HANISM FOR AUTOMATIC GAR COUPLINGS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 1, 1905.

OPERATING MEG UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDGAR E. TURNEY, OF PERU, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO NELSON H; TUNKS AND ONE-THIRD TO' KATIE O. HELMIG, OF PERU,

INDIANA.

\ OPERATING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC OAR-COUPLINGS- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 13, 1906."

Application filed November 1,1905. Serial No. 285,374.

- REiSSUFID 3 and 4, the latter being provided with the To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDGAR E. TURNEY, of Peru, county of Miami, and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Operating Mechanism for Automatic Car-Cou lers; and I do hereby declare that the fo lowing is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference eing had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form part of this specification.

This invention relates to devices for operating automatic car-couplers; and it has for its object to provide simple and effective means for adjusting the arm upon the operating-rod and also the connection between said arm and the lock-stem of the coupler.

The use of the ordinary one-lpiece operating-rod connected to the coup er-lock by a short chain has proven ineffective, owing to the fact that all cars have more or less free movement or slack in the rear end attachment of their couplers, and the ordinary rod and chain do not possess sufiicient flexibility to permit such free movement.

In carrying out my invention I rovide upon the operatingrod an arm capabie of beingadjusted thereon, and I provide said arm with an elongated slot whereby the connectionbetween said arm and the lock-stem of the coupler has 'a movement to permit free movement of the carswithout in the least affecting the efficientoperation of the couplerlocking mechanism.

Incarrymg out my invention I employ the novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter shown, described, and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing my invention app ied to the end of a car in position for operating an automatic car-coupler. Fig. 2v 1s an elevation in detail of the inner end of the operating-rod, the/bushing, and the adjustable arm, showing said parts as they appear before being assembled. Fig. 3 is an end view of the bushdetached from the operating-rod. Fig. 4

ing is a front view of the adjustable clevis, and

5 Fig. 5 is a side view of the clevis.

Referring to the parts, 1 is an operatingrod having the usual bent handle 2, and the same is mounted for operation upon castings usual angled extension to engage the handle and hold the same in raised position, as shown in full lines, Fig. 1. The innerend of the operating-rod is made non-circular and preferably square, as at 5, to receive thereon a bushmg or sleeve 6, having a cylindrical portion 7, provided with a square axial perforation to fit the square end of the rod, and,als o having a flanged portion 8, provided upon its face with serrations 9. 10 is an arm adapted to take a position upon the sleeve, the samebeing provided with serrations 1 1, meshing with the serrations 9 when the parts are assembled,

. a nut 12 on the end of the operating-rod securing the arm and bushing in position. The adjustment of the arm relative to the rod is readily accomplished by-unscrewingthe nut 12, the serrations upon the adjacent faces of the arm and the bushing being then disengaged. At the outer end of the arm 10 is provided a slot 13, adapted to receive a in 14 at the upper end of the connecting-c evis 15. Clevis 15 comprises two substantially similar parts ,16 and 17, respectively, each having a bifurcated portion 18, one for attachment to the end of the operating-arm and the other for attachment to the eye of the lock-stem 19 of the coupler. The faces of the arts 16 and 17 of the clevis are provided wit transverse serrations 20, and each part also has a slot 21, through which a bolt 22 asses, the latter holding the clevis parts in rigid relation when adjusted to, the proper length.

On assemblin the arts the operating-arm and, the serrate buslling are removed from the operating-rod, the latter being then readily I placed in position by being inserted through the openings in the castings 3 and 4. The bushin 6 is then placed upon the end of the rod, an the operating-arm is placed upon the bu'sihing and adjusted to the proper position, the nut 12 securing the same when adjusted. This arrangement is of obvious advanta e over the one-piece operating-rod and arm, t .e latter being secured to the car with difficulty. The slot at the outer end of the arm 10, along crates, permits the expansion and contraction of the draft-springs and supplies the req uisite flexibility necessary for the free movement of the cars without affecting the coupler-operating mechanism. It is important which the adjustable clevis opassume a nearly against rotation upon said to insure the flexibility above mentioned that the slot at the outer end of the operating-arm horizontalposition when the coupler is unlocked, since the pin of the clevis would slide with difliculty along said slot were the latter inclined. In order that the arm may be adjusted to cause the slot therein to assume a nearly horizontal position, the clevis connecting the same with the couplerlock is constructed so as to be conveniently adjustable in the direction of its length.

It will thus be seen that the parts are arranged to permit perfect flexibility during the operation of coupling the cars and that they are consequently relieved from undue strain and danger of breakage.

The utility of the invention will be apparent.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of'the United States, is

1. In a means for operating automatic carcouplers, the combination with the couplerlock, of an operating-rod, a bushing secured against rotation upon said rod, an arm ad'- justable upon said bushing, and a clevis slidably connected with the outer end of said arm and connected at its lower end with the coupler-lock, substantially as described.

2. In a means for operating automatic carcouplers, the combination wlth the coupler lock, of an operating-rod, a bushing secured rod, an arm adjustable upon said bushing, and a clevis con= necting the arm with the coupler-lock, said clevis being slidably carried at the outer end of said arm and having means for adjusting the same in the direction of its length, substantially as described. I

3. In a means for operating automatic carcouplers, an operating-rod having a squared end, a bushing having a square perforation to fit upon said end and held against rotation thereon, said bushing having a flange provided with radial teeth, an arm mounted upon the bushing and also provided with radial teeth to engage the teeth upon the flange, said arm having an elongated slot at its outer end, a nut upon the rod to secure the arm when adjusted relative to the bushing, and a clevis connectingthe slotted end of the coup ler-arm with the coupler-lock, said clevis consisting of two arts having interengaging teeth to permit the same to be adjusted in the direction of their length, and means for securing said clevis parts in adjusted position, substantially as described.

In testimony that I'claim the foregoing as my own I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDGAR E. TURNEY.

Witnesses:

' CHAs. C. DEFENBAUGH,

CARL H. KELLER. 

